Final answer:
White coat hypertension is a condition where anxiety in a medical setting leads to a temporary spike in blood pressure, which can be misleading when diagnosing chronic hypertension, a persistent condition with serious health risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The syndrome whereby a patient's feeling of anxiety in a medical environment results in an abnormally high reading when their blood pressure is measured is known as white coat hypertension. This condition occurs when patients experience stress at the prospect of a medical examination, causing a temporary increase in blood pressure that may not reflect their normal levels.
Chronic and persistent blood pressure measurements of 140/90 mm Hg or above are clinically known as hypertension, which is a silent condition that often goes unnoticed without regular monitoring. To avoid the potentially severe consequences of untreated hypertension, such as heart attacks or stroke, it is important for individuals to have their blood pressure checked regularly, both in clinical settings and at home using a digital blood pressure monitor.